Netflix finds Elizabeth II: a former Anne Boleyn

Helen Mirren has won the Oscar and the Tony for playing Queen Elizabeth II, but she relinquishes the role to Claire Foy in "The Crown."

Netflix will present the 10-episode series next year.

Advertisement

Foy has experience playing royals. She was Anne Boleyn in the PBS "Masterpiece" version of "Wolf Hall." Foy's other credits include the miniseries "Little Dorrit" and "Upstairs Downstairs."

"The Crown" examines the queen's relationships with the British prime ministers over her long reign. John Lithgow, the Emmy-winning star of "3rd Rock From the Sun," will play Sir Winston Churchill.

Another fascinating bit of casting: Matt Smith of "Doctor Who" will play Prince Philip, the queen's husband.

"The Crown" is a big deal because of the people behind it. The show is from writer Peter Morgan, who wrote "The Queen," which brought Mirren the Oscar, and "The Audience," which earned Mirren the Tony earlier this month. "The Crown" expands on themes in both works.

The people behind "The Crown" include director Stephen Daldry, who directed "The Audience" on Broadway, and producer Andy Harries ("The Queen"). Daldry, Philip Martin and Julian Jarrold will direct episodes by Morgan.